Shanghai Masters: Can Carlos Alcaraz match Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray Asian swing feat?
Carlos Alcaraz rolls into the Shanghai Masters as arguably the man to beat after an epic China Open triumph on Wednesday.
The Spaniard beat key rival Jannik Sinner in an epic final in Beijing to lift the 16th title of his career and highlight his return to top form after a shock early exit at the US Open.
Alcaraz is the third seed in Shanghai and, having received an opening-round bye, will begin his quest for a first title later this week.
He will look to join two fellow former world No 1’s – Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – in achieving a rare Asian swing feat: completing the Beijing-Shanghai double.
Novak Djokovic: 2012-13, 2015
Djokovic dominated the Asian swing throughout the 2010s, completing the Beijing-Shanghai double three times in the space of four years.
The first of those doubles came in 2012, starting with a straight-set victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Beijing final before saving five match points to beat Murray in an epic Shanghai Masters final.
The following year, the Serbian successfully defended his title at both tournaments.
Djokovic breezed to his second straight China Open title, easing past Rafael Nadal in the final, and prevailed in another epic Shanghai final – this time against Juan Martin del Potro.
2014 saw the 24-time major winner fail to defend his Shanghai crown, but he bounced back to complete the double for a third and final time in 2015.
He once again defeated Nadal to claim a fourth straight title in Beijing, before overcoming Tsonga in Shanghai.
ATP Tour News
Novak Djokovic reveals ‘extra motivation’ ahead of Shanghai return as he drops retirement plans hint
Andy Murray: 2016
The second – and to date, last – person to complete the double was Murray, who won both events during a stunning end-of-season surge that powered his run to world No 1 at the end of 2016.
With four-time defending champion Djokovic withdrawing, Murray was the top seed at the China Open and faced little trouble on his way to a first title at the event.
The Brit did not drop a set on his way to victory, downing fifth seed David Ferrer in the last four before a 6-4, 7-6(2) victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the final.
Murray then arrived in Shanghai – where he had twice previously won the title – as the second seed and was in similarly emphatic form.
He again did not drop a set to claim his third title at the tournament, beating Gilles Simon in the semi-finals before a 7-6(1), 6-1 final triumph over Roberto Bautista Agut.
Read Next: The 6 men to win the Shanghai Masters – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer with multiple titles
